Czech news in brief for September 9: Monday's top headlines

Imagine Dragons are set to return to Prague on June 9, 2025, following their sold-out performances at Letňany three years ago, where they drew 120,000 fans. The band will perform songs from their latest album Loom, their first without drummer Daniel Platzman. Tickets for the Letňany show go on sale to the public on Sept. 13, with pre-sales available on Sept. 12 via Spotify and other platforms. Prices start at CZK 1,890.

Unemployment in the Czech Republic remained steady at 3.8 percent in August, unchanged from July but 0.2 percent higher than last year, according to data from the Labor Office. The highest unemployment was in the Ústí region at 6 percent, while Prague had the lowest at 2.9 percent. Analysts predict unemployment will rise to 4 percent by year-end, citing cooling economic conditions, but widespread layoffs are unexpected.

The European Commission is considering freezing EU funds for Slovakia due to concerns over its democratic standards, particularly the dissolution of an elite prosecutor’s office. The potential freeze could affect Slovakia’s €12.8 billion cohesion funds, which are crucial for public investment. While the process is still in the early stages, the Commission is analyzing recent Slovak legal reforms and has yet to decide whether to proceed with sanctions.

An audit by the Supreme Audit Office (NKU) revealed that key IT projects at the Czech Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs remain unfinished after ten years despite significant spending. While some services are digitized, manual data entry persists. The ministry disputes the findings, citing recent progress. The NKU also flagged legal violations in public procurement and costly delays, with an estimated CZK 650 million in additional expenses.

Meteorologists report the end of the Czech Republic's heatwave today, with temperatures set to plummet by 10 to 15 degrees. Records were broken at many weather stations, with a high of 32.9°C in Tuhan. Cooler weather will begin Monday night, with more rain expected midweek. Some areas may see temperatures drop as low as 11°C by Friday.

The XVII Paralympic Games concluded with a ceremony at the Stade de France, where the Paralympic baton was symbolically passed to 2028 organizers Los Angeles. International Paralympic Committee President Andrew Parsons called the Paris Games the most spectacular. Czech flag bearer David Kratochvíl, a 16-year-old blind swimmer and three-time medalist, led the team. The Czech Republic won eight medals, finishing 53rd in the country rankings.

Analysts expect Czech inflation to have slowed to around 2 percent in August, potentially dipping below for the first time this year. The drop is attributed to lower fuel, clothing, and food prices, though uncertainty remains due to fluctuating food costs. The Czech Statistical Office (ČSÚ) will release official figures Tuesday. The Czech National Bank forecasted a 1.7 percent inflation rate, with a slight increase expected in September.

Czech Labor Minister Marian Jurečka plans to propose a targeted salary increase for low-income civil servants next week. Rather than a blanket rise, Jurečka aims to focus on lower earners. The government has promised an 8 percent increase in public sector funding by January 2025. Trade unions have called for further negotiations, with a decision expected between Sept. 13 and 17.

Czech gas storage tanks are over 93 percent full, exceeding previous years' averages, Industry and Trade Minister Josef Síkela announced on X. The high reserves are attributed to low consumption. Síkela added that gas storage levels across Europe are similarly above average. This surplus provides energy security ahead of the colder months.